Congolese authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Bemba, who is sheltering in the South African embassy where he fled during fierce gun and mortar battles between his men and government soldiers in which more than 100 people were killed.

"All those who are responsible for insecurity will be tracked down," Kabila told a news conference in Kinshasa which was broadcast on state television.

"Could a militia group in Paris seize the Champs Elysees and then have a reconciliation the next day? If not, why should it be so in Congo," he said.

Government forces restored order to Democratic Republic of Congo's sprawling riverside capital late on Friday after routing fighters loyal to Bemba. Hospital morgues were overflowing with dead bodies and doctors struggled to cope with the wounded.

It was the first violence in the capital since a presidential runoff in October which Bemba lost to Kabila. The polls were supposed to turn the page on a 1998-2003 war which killed nearly 4 million people, mainly from hunger and disease.

"We had to take the chance and hold elections. Now that is done, nobody is above the law," Kabila said.